A round-up of today's other world stories in brief
Leader of Iraq’s powerful Shia group dies
BAGHDAD –The leader of one of Iraq's most powerful Shia Muslim political groups and most important religious dynasties died yesterday, adding to political uncertainty in a violent run-up to an election next January. Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, who headed the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, a major partner in the Shia-led government, died while undergoing treatment for cancer in Iran, the council said. It is a painful event and a great tragedy, the council-owned television station quoted Ammar al-Hakim, his son and likely successor as party leader, as saying. Mr Hakim's "death at this sensitive stage that we are going through is considered a big loss," said prime minister Nuri al-Maliki. – (Reuters)
Channel 4 to drop ‘Big Brother’
LONDON –Channel 4 said it is to ditch the once-popular Big Brotherreality television series amid falling ratings for this year's show. Launched in Britain in 2000, the show in which contestants live together in an enclosed space and face a series of public eviction votes made celebrities out of Jade Goody and "Nasty" Nick Bateman.
Kevin Lygo, director of television and content at Channel 4, said next year's series of Celebrity Big Brotherand Big Brotherwould be the last on the network. "Big Brotheris still profitable for Channel 4 despite its reduced popularity and there could have been the option to renew it on more favourable terms." – (Reuters)
Progress on peace talks – Netanyahu
LONDON –Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu said yesterday his government was making progress towards reopening peace talks with the Palestinians and hoped to be able to do so shortly.
Israel has resisted US president Barack Obama’s calls to freeze settlement building in occupied territory so that peace talks may resume, a dispute that has led to a rare rift in the Jewish state’s relations with its main backer. Mr Netanyahu held talks in London with US Middle East envoy George Mitchell yesterday morning, a meeting described as “very productive” by the two men. – (Reuters)